44+ min ago (1072+ words) The bystander effect may explain why no one intervened at a Tauranga fountain where a 4-year-old was lying "face down, a psychologist says. Tauranga girl Nia Lohchab drowned in the Memorial Park fountain on May 21, 2023. Coroner Matthew Bates released his findings in October and said he was "troubled that four people were captured on CCTV near the fountain, but no one pulled Nia out. He said at least three of the bystanders were "clearly aware of her lying in the water, and one appeared to be calling emergency services. Police removed Nia and began CPR when they arrived, about 13 minutes after she had entered the water. While it was "unlikely a bystander's intervention would have changed the outcome, the coroner said, minimising the time in water and starting CPR as soon as possible were "crucial steps for increasing the chances…...

44+ min ago (809+ words) Rodrigo Olin-German is an HIV advocate who has lived with the virus since 2003. He is board chair of the Global Network of People living with HIV and head of services and outreach at the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa. Here, on World Aids Day, he talks to Paulette Crowley about what's it like living with HIV. Have you ever seen the movie Philadelphia? It's about a gay man with a very successful career as a lawyer. He had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys your immune system. Like many people with HIV back when that movie was made in the 1990s, he got really sick and died. I watched that movie back in my homeland of Mexico when I was 20, while I was waiting for the results of an HIV test. I had symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection but doctors also tested…...

9+ hour, 42+ min ago (452+ words) By Delphine Herbert of RNZ New Zealand Pork chief executive Brent Kleiss believes the country should be concerned about Spain's confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF). Spain has confirmed that two wild boars found dead near Barcelona tested positive for the virus. Among other countries, the United Kingdom quickly moved to temporarily ban imports from the country. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was monitoring the situation in Spain and said New Zealand would not accept any pork from that region of the country. Kleiss agreed that measures like a temporary ban must be put in place. "I guess the big concern for me is that now, along with Spain, 43% of pork coming to New Zealand does come from countries with African swine fever, and these temporary bans don't always stay, even when the ASF does." NZ Pork statistics…...

11+ hour, 43+ min ago (485+ words) The United States" top vaccine regulator has laid out a stricter approach for federal vaccine approvals, citing his team"s conclusion, without detailing the evidence, that coronavirus vaccines ... The United States" top vaccine regulator has laid out a stricter approach for federal vaccine approvals, citing his team"s conclusion, without detailing the evidence, that coronavirus vaccines contributed to the deaths of at least 10 American children, according to an internal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) email obtained by The Washington Post. Vinay Prasad, an FDA official whose approach to vaccine policy has been championed by US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy jnr, told agency officials that the FDA will rethink its framework for annual flu shots, examine whether Americans should be receiving multiple vaccines at the same time and require vaccine makers to show far more data to prove the safety…...

1+ day, 5+ hour ago (1710+ words) One morning recently, Jess Quinn experienced her most unexpected parenting moment. Marching into the bedroom with the determination of a wee soldier was Marla, her almost 2-year-old daughter, who'd decided she wanted to wear mummy's prosthetic limb that day. Woman's health advocate Jess, who lost her right leg to bone cancer at age 8, was left pondering how she could explain it in a way that would make sense to a tantruming toddler. "Marla hasn't quite grasped the concept of me needing my leg to walk," laughs Jess, 32. "I had to say, "you can put it on, but if you want to have a fun day, then Mummy needs to wear it'. "My disability is just so normalised for her. But I imagine the questions are going to start coming as she pieces together the fact that, "oh, my mummy's different…...

1+ day, 7+ hour ago (345+ words) My husband and I separated several years ago. We have two daughters, aged 11 and 13. Recently my ex-husband and I have been at loggerheads regarding two issues affecting our 13-year-old, Zara: whether she should have braces (and who should pay), and whether we should allow her to get a small tattoo on the back of her shoulder. Whether your daughter should have braces to straighten her teeth is a guardianship decision. As you and your husband are both joint guardians, you will need to reach agreement on this issue before proceeding with treatment. If you cannot secure your husband's agreement (preferably in writing), you will need to seek permission from the Family Court. In determining whether Zara should have braces, the court will consider what is in her best interests. The court will appoint a lawyer to ascertain Zara's views. At…...

1+ day, 12+ hour ago (958+ words) A pregnant woman was advised that she didn't need to do further testing for Down syndrome because there was an extremely rare chance her daughter would have the genetic condition. But, the baby girl was born with the disability and multiple other conditions. Six months after giving birth, the mother applied to the Accident Compensation Corporation for cover for herself, and her daughter, on the basis that her decision to continue the pregnancy could be classed as a treatment injury. She said she wouldn't have continued with the pregnancy if she had known about the risk. The corporation declined hers and her daughter's applications, and, earlier this year, she took her fight to the District Court, where a judge found that the medical advice she had been given was incorrect. According to that ruling, the woman, who has name suppression,…...

2+ day, 1+ hour ago (520+ words) Tauranga 11-year-old Harry Oxenham refuses to let Type 1 diabetes and cystic fibrosis stop him from eating nine Weet-Bix for breakfast, striving to meet an All Black one day, or giving the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon his all. This will be the Tauriko boy's third time competing in the TRYathlon. He started at the age of 6 and raced last year too. This year he's looking forward to the biking leg of the Mount Maunganui Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon this Sunday at Arataki Park. He also intends to beat some of his friends who are competing. Mother Aly Oxenham said Harry has plenty of energy, a strong spirit, and a sense of humour despite the challenges he faces. Cystic fibrosis is a condition that causes mucus to build up in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties. Harry was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at…...

3+ day, 13+ hour ago (781+ words) Todd Maitland with his parents, Chris and Tina, after receiving the 2025 Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year award. Todd Maitland didn't speak a word until he was nearly 9. By 13, he had lost full sight in one eye. But from the basketball courts of Tauranga to the hands-on world of trades, he has tackled every challenge head-on. He won BCITO's 2025 Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year award last month after completing level 3 " an honour he was "surprised" to receive. Now 21, Maitland's even bought his first home, all while living with autism, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, learning, behaviour, and interaction with others. Despite that, he has put in the hard mahi since starting his apprenticeship with Brownmore Concrete Ltd in Waih" four years ago. Tina, his mother and "number one supporter", said she was blown away by his success. "We…...

4+ day, 14+ hour ago (544+ words) Warning: Content may disturb After five years of trying, Auckland woman Victoria Edwards was thrilled to be pregnant, and to give birth, via an emergency caesarean section, to a healthy little girl last month at Auckland's North Shore Hospital. The surgical procedure itself went well, she said. But she later became worried about the amount of blood around the wound. "I raised concerns with midwives on the postnatal ward about significant bleeding and oozing from my surgical dressing," she told the Herald. "Despite repeatedly voicing my worries, no one checked or changed the bandage," she said. "Even then, I said: "Oh, can you check the bandage'? They checked it and said it was fine [but] it was still of concern to me." A few days later, Edwards said the wound started oozing pus-like fluid through the bandage and into her…...